SUNY Oneonta Student Gisselle Rojas De La Luz Completes Experiential Learning Project

SUNY Oneonta student Gisselle Rojas De La Luz, of Yonkers, NY, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Gotham City Outpost Internship."

Throughout the calendar year, SUNY Oneonta students put their classroom knowledge into action as they complete a wide range of experiential learning projects across every academic discipline. Whether studying fashion trends, conducting biological research, analyzing historical archives, working in professional accounting settings or participating in community-based fieldwork, students are gaining real-world experience that prepares them for career success.

These opportunities are supported through the university's Experiential Learning Center, located on the main floor of the Hunt Union. The center connects students with internships, research opportunities, global education experiences, volunteer programs and sustainability initiatives. By emphasizing hands-on engagement and practical skill development, the center ensures that experiential learning is woven into every major at SUNY Oneonta.

"As an intern at Gotham City Outpost, I helped promote a local lifestyle boutique through social media, community outreach and customer engagement. This experience has allowed me to strengthen my communication, marketing and creative skills while supporting small business growth in the Oneonta community," said Rojas De La Luz, who is majoring in Fashion and Textiles.

"During my internship at Gotham City Outpost, I created social media videos to help promote the store and engage with customers online. I also assisted with community outreach by connecting with local businesses and organizations to help increase awareness of the store. In addition, I helped host in-store events that brought the community together and created a welcoming shopping experience. I also organized and displayed clothing items that were trending and in style to help attract customers and keep the store visually appealing.

"Through my internship at Gotham City Outpost, I learned how important creativity, communication and teamwork are in running a successful business. By creating social media videos, I developed marketing and content creation skills while learning how to engage with different audiences online. Helping with outreach taught me how to build professional relationships and connect with the local community. I also gained experience in event planning and customer service by helping host store events. In addition, organizing trendy and stylish clothing helped me strengthen my eye for fashion trends and visual presentation. Overall, this internship helped me grow professionally and prepared me for future opportunities in fashion, marketing and business.

"As I prepare to graduate, I hope to pursue a career in the fashion marketing industry where I can combine my creativity, communication skills and passion for fashion. My internship at Gotham City Outpost has helped guide me in the right direction by giving me hands-on experience in social media marketing, community outreach, event planning and fashion merchandising. This experience has strengthened my confidence and confirmed my interest in working in a creative and fast-paced industry where I can continue to grow professionally."

Students benefit from a robust network of campus offices housed within the Experiential Learning Center. The Career Planning and Networking Center helps students secure internships in locations such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Albany and Los Angeles, as well as with local businesses and nonprofits. The Office of Global Education offers programs ranging from 10-day faculty-led trips to full-year study abroad experiences, while the Office of Student Research and Creative Activity supports student research through grants and opportunities to present at the annual Student Research and Creative Activity Showcase.

SUNY Oneonta invests heavily in helping students access these opportunities. Each year, the university awards more than $120,000 in grants to support student research, internships and travel to professional conferences. In addition, 23 study abroad and experiential scholarships help students participate in faculty-led programs, national competitions and industry events. Since the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year, the Career Planning and Networking Center has distributed over $319,500 in internship stipends to more than 400 students.

To view these students click here: https://oneonta.meritpages.com/achievements/SUNY-Oneonta-Student-Gisselle-Rojas-De-La-Luz-Completes-Experiential-Learning-Project/202833